October 08, 2013

the bride of bendooley

Even before you turn into the driveway of
the Bendooley Estate, Southern Highlands, you sense you have arrived somewhere
very special. Whether you have grown up on the beaches of Sydney, in the Yarra
Valley or a town far far away, you feel like you feel like you have come home.
This sensation is attributed, in part, to the gentle nature of the rolling land
as it rises and falls, welcoming and glorious but more tangibly to the
hospitable grace of Katja Berkelouw.

Katja, wife of Paul Berkelouw of the
Berkelouw Book dynasty lives and works on Bendooley Estate and last month Lula
& Bella caught up with her at her Berrima home.

Strolling across the beautifully manicured
lawns, Labradors by her side, Katja’s smile reaches you before she does and it
doesn’t take long to realise that the elegance and warmth that radiates from
the Estate is an extension of her and the Berkelouw family values.

On a crisp Spring day a blanket of dew
cloaks the private lawns, bestrewn with towering, ancient European trees.
Before you know it you are picturing the drapes of a white marquee, guests
milling round the rose garden, champagne in hand, a stolen newlywed kiss on the
jetty of the lake... I do I do!

Stepping foot in the Book Barn is enough to
make you squeal with delight. The log fire crackles, wine glasses clink over
the noise of cheerful dinners, the intimacy is happy and relaxed. Exposed
beams, leather- bound books and iron chandeliers invoke old world nostalgia
while, impeccable service, attention to detail and a seasonal menu provide a
fine dining experience.

Whether you are a bookworm, a wine lover or
simply enjoy beautiful things done properly, Lula and Bella cannot recommend
Katja Berkelouw and her team at the Bendooley Estate more highly for your
wedding day.